Spring Push with Integral Trigger

ABSTRACT

A spring push with a main body, a crimp portion and two extensions also provides a trigger extending from the main body. The extensions provide engagement with the connector housing and also surfaces to engage the spring. The spring push may be a single component or be comprised of two separate pieces. An adapter is also disclosed with a cut-out portion on a bottom side.

REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) toprovisional application No. 62/056,648 filed on Sep. 29, 2014, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

Fiber optic connectors may have a latch that assists in securing thefiber optic connector into an adapter or panel. However, the latchesmust have a portion that extends upward and/or outward from the adapter,allowing workers to disengage the fiber optic connectors from theadapter and/or panel. However, that latch then provides a snag point.Workers can catch clothing, tools, etc. on the latch and mistakenlydisengage the fiber optic connector. Therefore, some fiber opticconnectors have a trigger component that are added after the fiber opticconnector has been terminated that protect the latches from theunintentional disengagement. The trigger component attaches to the fiberoptic connector rearwardly of the connector housing (in an LC connector,for example) and covers the end of the latch. See, for example, FIG. 1.However, it would be more efficient if additional components were notneed for the fiber optic connectors.

Thus, a component of the fiber optic connector, the spring push, hasbeen designed to eliminate the additional component and provides thetrigger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a spring push having a trigger foruse with a fiber optic connector that includes a main body having aforward facing surface, a rearward facing surface, and at least one sideportion, two generally parallel extensions extending from the forwardfacing surface of the main body away from the rearward facing surface;the two generally parallel extensions configured to engage an elasticmember therebetween and each of the parallel extensions having aprojection to engage a connector housing of the fiber optic connector, acrimp portion extending from the rearward facing surface of the mainbody and away from the forward facing surface, the crimp portion havinga central opening to allow optical fibers to pass therethrough andbetween the two generally parallel extensions; and a trigger extendingfrom the at least one side portion to engage at least a portion of alatch on the connector housing of the fiber optic connector.

In some embodiments, the trigger extends away from the main body betweenthe crimp portion and the two generally parallel extensions and thenextends toward the two generally parallel extensions.

In some other embodiments, each of the two generally parallel extensionshave a front end and a forward facing surface disposed between the frontend and the main body to engage the elastic member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a two-piece springpush for a fiber optic connector is disclosed that includes a firstportion having two generally parallel extensions, a second portion,wherein the first portion and the second portion are mated to form amain body and a crimp portion, the main body having a forward facingsurface, a rearward facing surface, and at least one side portion, thetwo generally parallel extensions extending from the forward facingsurface of the main body away from the rearward facing surface, thecrimp portion extending from the rearward facing surface of the mainbody and away from the forward facing surface and having a centralopening to allow optical fibers to pass therethrough and between the twogenerally parallel extensions, and a trigger extending from the at leastone side portion to engage at least a portion of a latch on theconnector housing of the fiber optic connector.

In some embodiments, the trigger extends away from the main body betweenthe crimp portion and the two generally parallel extensions and thenextends toward the two generally parallel extensions.

In some embodiments, the trigger and the two generally parallelextensions lie in the same plane.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present embodiments of theinvention are intended to provide an overview or framework forunderstanding the nature and character of the invention as it isclaimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate variousembodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve toexplain the principles and operations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art connector with a trigger adaptermounted thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a spring push with atrigger according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is cross section of the spring push in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the spring push of FIG. 1along with the components of one embodiment of a fiber optic connectorand an adapter;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a spring push illustrated witha connector housing, optical fiber ferrule and spring according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spring push, fiber optic connector,and adapter of FIG. 4 in an assembled state;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the spring push, fiber optic connector, andadapter of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of the spring push, fiber opticconnector, and adapter of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of aspring push with a trigger according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross section of the spring push in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of one embodiment of an adapter according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numeralswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art version of an LC connector 10 with atrigger adapter 12 is illustrated. The adapter 12 is added after theconnector 10 is assembled. The adapter 12 requires extra steps in theassembly of the connector 10 and also provides more edges and surfacesto catch items on the connector. Thus, it would be beneficial to have atrigger that is integral with the fiber optic connector that eliminatesthese catch points.

One embodiment of a spring push 100 according to the present inventionis illustrated in FIGS. 2 & 3. The spring push 100 can be used as a partof a fiber optic connector 200 illustrated in FIGS. 4-7. The spring push100 has a main body 102, the main body having a forward facing surface104, a rearward facing surface 106, and side portions 108. Extendingfrom the forward facing surface 104 of the main body 102 are twogenerally parallel extensions 110,112. The two generally parallelextensions 110,112 are spaced to allow for an elastic member, preferablya coil spring, to bias a fiber optic ferrule (see FIG. 4) toward thefront of the fiber optic connector 200. Each of the two generallyparallel extensions 110,112 have a front end 114. A forward facingsurface 116 is disposed on each of the two generally parallel extensions110,112 to engage the elastic member disposed therebetween. The term“front” and “forward” as used herein means that direction where thefiber optic connector would mate with another fiber optic connector ordevice, while the term rear is used to mean the direction from which theoptical fibers come. So turning to FIG. 3, front is the direction shownby the arrow and “back” or “rearward” is the opposite direction.

Each of the two generally parallel extensions 110,112 also have aprojection 118 on an outside surface 120 to engage a correspondingopening in the fiber optic connector 200 to engage recesses or openings202 to retain the spring push 100 within the connector housing 204 ofthe fiber optic connector 200. The projections 118 may also have achamfered leading edge 122 that allows for the front end 114 of the twogenerally parallel extensions 110,112 to more easily enter into thecentral opening 206 of the connector housing 204.

Extending from the rearward facing surface 106 is a crimp portion 130.The crimp portion 130 allows for the Kevlar cords and cable jacket (orother structural members) to be secured to the spring push 100 and thefiber optic connector 200 as is known in the art. As illustrated in thefigures, the crimp portion 130 has an outer surface 132 that ispreferably round and a round central opening 134. However, the shape ofthe outer surface 132 and the central opening 134 may take other shapes,including oval, hexagonal, etc. The shapes of the outer surface 132 andthe central opening 134 may take any shape and still fall within thescope of the present invention.

A trigger 140 extends from one of the side portions 108 of the main body102 of the spring push 100. The trigger 140 generally extends upwardbetween the crimp portion 130 and the two generally parallel extensions110,112 and then extends toward the front end 114 of the two generallyparallel extensions 110,112. The trigger 140, when the spring push 100is inserted into the connector housing 204, extends over the connectorhousing 204 and is disposed on top of the latch 208 on the connectorhousing 204. As is known in the art, the latch 208 secures the connectorhousing 204 into an adapter, such as the adapter 300 illustrated in FIG.4, to keep the fiber optic connector 200 from being inadvertentlyremoved from the adapter 300. With the trigger 140 disposed on top ofthe latch 208, it is more difficult to inadvertently remove the fiberoptic connector 200 from the adapter 500. See FIGS. 10 and 11. Thetrigger 140 also extends from the side portion between the crimp portion130 and the two generally parallel extensions 110,112, but could alsoextend from the side portion between the two generally parallelextensions 110,112 (i.e., 90 degrees around the main body 102 from whereit is illustrated) and still fall within the scope of the presentinvention. The location of the trigger 140 depends on where the latch208 on the connector housing 204 is disposed. In the present embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 2-7, the trigger 140 is in a plane that also passesthrough the center of the two generally parallel extensions 110,112. SeeFIG. 2.

As referenced to above and illustrated in FIGS. 4-7, one embodiment of afiber optic connector 200 that can be used with the inventive springpush 100 includes the connector housing 204, a ferrule 210, a spring212, and the spring push 100. Additional fiber optic connector elementsmay also be included but are not illustrated herein, such as guide pins,a pin keeper, etc. These fiber optic connector elements may also haveother configuration and still come within the scope of the presentinvention and the appended claims. For example, the spring could have aconfiguration other than the rectangular shape illustrated herein.

Another embodiment of a two-piece spring push 400 is illustrated in FIG.8. Spring push 400 functions similarly to spring push 100, but is formedto two portions 400 a and 400 b that make up the main body 402 and thecrimp portion 430. The main body 402 has a forward facing surface 404, arearward facing surface 406, and side portions 408. Extending from theforward facing surface 404 of the main body 402 are two generallyparallel extensions 410,412 and extending from the rearward facingsurface 406 is the crimp portion 430.

The two generally parallel extensions 410,412 are spaced to allow for anelastic member to bias a fiber optic ferrule, such as fiber opticferrule 210, toward the front of the fiber optic connector 200. Each ofthe two generally parallel extensions 410,412 have a front end 414. Aforward facing surface 416 is disposed on each of the two generallyparallel extensions 410,412 to engage the elastic member disposedtherebetween. The term “front” and “forward” as used with thisembodiment has the same meaning as that indicated above.

Each of the two generally parallel extensions 410,412 also have aprojection 418 on an outside surface 420 to engage a correspondingopening in the fiber optic connector 200 to engage recesses or openings202 to retain the spring push 400 within the connector housing 204 ofthe fiber optic connector 200. The projections 418 also have a chamferedleading edge 422 that allows for the front end 414 of the two generallyparallel extensions 410,412 to more easily enter into the centralopening 206 of the connector housing 204.

A trigger 440 extends from one of the side portions 408 of the main body402 of the spring push 400. The trigger 440 generally extends upwardbetween the crimp portion 430 and the two generally parallel extensions410,412 and then extends toward the front end 414 of the two generallyparallel extensions 410,412. The trigger 440, when the spring push 400is inserted into the connector housing 204, extends over the connectorhousing 204 and is disposed on top of the latch 208 on the connectorhousing 204.

The trigger 440 also extends from the side portion 408 between the crimpportion 430 and the two generally parallel extensions 410,412, but couldalso extend from the side portion 408 between the two generally parallelextensions 410,412 (i.e., 90 degrees around the main body 402 from whereit is illustrated) and still fall within the scope of the presentinvention. The location of the trigger 440 depends on where the latch208 on the connector housing 204 is disposed.

The details of the two-piece spring push 400 are detailed in U.S. Pat.No. 8,684,611 to Childers et al., the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference. However, there could be other configurations of atwo-piece spring push that would still fall within the scope of thepresent invention and the appended claims.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an adapter 500 that can be used with a fiberoptic connector that uses the spring pushes described above. The adapterhas two side panels 502, 504 having a first end 506 and a second end508. Each of the side panels 502,504 has an upper edge 510 and a loweredge 512 as well as a first portion 514 and a second portion 516. Thefirst portion 514 has smaller width, that is the distance between theupper and lower edges 510,512, than the width of the second portion 516.

The adapter 500 also has an top panel 520 and a lower panel 522, whichtogether with the side panels 502,504 create a passageway 526 in theadapter 500. The top panel 520 also has an opening 528 in communicationwith the passageway 526 to receive a portion of a latch from the fiberoptic connector, the latch retaining the fiber optic connector in theadapter 500. The top panel 520 and the lower panel 522 extend only alongthe length of the second portions 516 of the side panels 502, 504. Theydo not extend all the way to the first end of the side panels 502, 504.With the top panel 520 and the lower panel 522 stopping at the firstportion 514 and the reduced width of the side panels 502, 504, there areessentially cut-out portions 522,524 at the first end 506 to allowaccess to the bottom and top of the fiber optic connector whilemaintaining the alignment and protection afforded by the side panels502, 504. The cut-out portion 524 at the top of the adapter 500 allowsfor the latch to be depressed and the fiber optic connector removed fromthe adapter 500. The lower cut-out portion 522 allows access to thebottom surface of the fiber optic connector so that the latch can bedepressed and the fiber optic connector removed therefrom.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A two-piece spring push for a fiber optic connectorcomprising: a first portion having two generally parallel extensions; asecond portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion aremated to form a main body and a crimp portion, the main body having aforward facing surface, a rearward facing surface, and at least one sideportion, the two generally parallel extensions extending from theforward facing surface of the main body away from the rearward facingsurface, the crimp portion extending from the rearward facing surface ofthe main body and away from the forward facing surface and having acentral opening to allow optical fibers to pass therethrough and betweenthe two generally parallel extensions; and a trigger extending from theat least one side portion to engage at least a portion of a latch on theconnector housing of the fiber optic connector.
 21. The two-piece springpush according to claim 20, wherein the crimp body has a generallycylindrical outer surface.
 22. The two-piece spring push according toclaim 20, wherein the trigger extends away from the main body betweenthe crimp portion and the two generally parallel extensions and thenextends toward the two generally parallel extensions.
 23. The two-piecespring push according to claim 20, wherein the central opening extendsfrom the back end and through the main body towards the front end. 24.The two-piece spring push according to claim 20, where the trigger andthe two generally parallel extensions lie in the same plane.
 25. Thetwo-piece spring push according to claim 20, wherein the central openingin the crimp portion is round.
 26. The two-piece spring push accordingto claim 20, wherein the central opening in the crimp portion is oval.27. The two-piece spring push according to claim 20, wherein the triggeris configured to engage a top portion of the latch.
 28. A two-piecespring push for use with a fiber optic connector comprising: a firstportion forming a main body, the main body having a front end, a backend, a middle portion disposed between, and at least one side portion,the front end comprising two generally parallel extensions extendingfrom the middle portion and having an opening therebetween, the back endforming at least a first portion of a cylinder; a second portion forminga cap configured to mate with the main body, the cap engaging at least aportion of the middle portion of the main body and at least a portion ofthe back end, the cap and the main body forming an opening through atleast a portion of the spring push; and a trigger extending from the atleast one side portion to engage at least a portion of a latch on aconnector housing of the fiber optic connector.
 29. The two-piece springpush according to claim 28, wherein the first portion and the secondportion include openings and projections for mating.
 30. The two-piecespring push according to claim 28, wherein the second portion includes asecond portion of a cylinder such that when the first and the secondportion are mated, the first and second portions of a cylinder form acrimp portion forming at least a portion of the opening to allow opticalfibers to pass therethrough and between the two generally parallelextensions.
 31. The two-piece spring push according to claim 30, whereinthe portion of the opening formed by the crimp portion is incommunication with the opening between the two generally parallelextensions.
 32. The two-piece spring push according to claim 30, whereinthe portion of the opening formed by the crimp portion is of anon-circular cross-section.
 33. The two-piece spring push according toclaim 28, wherein each of the generally parallel extensions has aprojection to engage the connector housing of the fiber optic connector.34. The two-piece spring push according to claim 33, wherein theprojection has a chamfered edge.
 35. The two-piece spring push accordingto claim 33, wherein the projection has a rounded surface.
 36. The twopiece spring push according to claim 28, wherein the portion of thelatch is under the trigger when the two-piece spring push is engagedwith the connector housing.
 37. The two piece spring push according toclaim 28, wherein the two-piece spring push includes a projection toengage a connector housing of the fiber optic connector, and uponengagement the connector housing and the spring push are mateable withan adapter such that the trigger and at least a portion of the connectorhousing lie outside the adapter.
 38. A spring push for a fiber opticconnector comprising: a main body and a cap, the main body and capsecured to one another only by friction caused by mating the main bodyand cap, the main body having a front end, a back end, a middle portiondisposed therebetween and at least one side portion, and the cap havinga front end terminating at the middle portion; an opening formed by themated main body and cap extending through at least a portion of thespring push; a crimp body formed by the mating of the main body and capat a back end thereof; and a trigger extending from the at least oneside portion to engage at least a portion of a latch on a connectorhousing of the fiber optic connector.